Latch



March 16 1926. 1,576,612

' l. S. KEELER LATCH Filed NOV. 1'7, 1924 [N VENTOR FJI. [:1 I Isaac KeeZer Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,576,612 PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC S KEELER, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGN'OR TO KEELER BRASS GOM- PANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

LATCH.

Application filed November 17, 1924. Serial No. 750,372.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Isaac S. KEELER, citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, county of Kent, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches, ot'wlnch the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in latches.

The main object of this invention 1s to provide an improved latch which is particnlarly adapted for use on refrigerators and one exerting a clamping action on the door when the latch is engaged.

A further object is to provide an improved latch in which the bolt is auton'iatieally held in retracted position to be released on the closing of the door and thereby avoiding noise and friction in the engagement of the bolt with the keeper.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. I is a top plan view of a latch applied to a. door, fragments only of thedoor and its casing being indicated and the door beiu g shown in completely closed position.

Fig. II is an inverted view of the latch.

Fig. III is a detail view partially in section on a. line corresponding to line 3--fl 'of Fig. II, looking in the direction of the arrows, fragments of the door and easing being shown as in Fig. I and the door being shown in partially closed position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all ofthe views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a door and 2 the casing of a refrigerator or like structure to which I have shown my 'im roved latch a plied.

y improved atch comprises a housing 3 having side flanges 4 provided with holes -5 adapted to receive the attaching screws. This housing has outwardly projecting pivot ears 6 on the top thereof spaced to receive the lever 7 which is mounted on the pivot 8 carried by the cars. This lever projects through the opening 9 on the top of the housing.

The housing has opposed openings 10 and 11. in its end walls adapted to reciprocatingly support the bolt 12. This bolt is shouldered at 13, a coiled spring 14 being arranged on the bolt to engage this shoulder with its outer end engaging the housing so that the bolt is projected by the spring.

Adjacent its forward end the bolt is provided with a catch shoulder 15 adapted to engage the end of the housing when the bolt is retracted as shown in Fig. III holding the bolt in its retracted position. The bolt is retracted-by means of the lever '7, the arm 16 of the lever engaging the slot 17 of the bolt.

The rear end of this slot is outwardly and rearwardly inclined so that as the lever forces the bolt backwardly against the tension of the spring, an inward pressure is applied to the bolt to cause its catch to swing into engagement.

The coacting strike 18 is provided with a tappet lug 19 disposed in a plane in front of the keeper 20 of the strike. The bolt has an inwardly projecting finger 21 which engages this lug 19 as the door is swung to its closed position as shown in Fig. 1I. thereby disengaging the bolt catch and allowing the projection of the belt by its spring. The face of the keeper is inclined so that the bolt engaging this inclined surface exerts a camming action on the bolt, thus forcing the door into its casing.

As the door swings to closed position, the bolt does not engage the inclined surface 22 of the strike as is usual in latches of this type, owing to the bolt being held in its retracted position. This avoids friction and noise and permits the use of a strong spring for projecting the bolt into engagement with the strike, and, owing to the camming action, as stated, forcing the door to its seat.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a latch, the combination of a housing having an opening in the top thereof, the end walls of the housing being provided with opposed bolt openings, :1 bolt reciprocatingly mounted on said bolt openings and having an inwardly projecting finger at its front end and a shoulder like catch on its inner side engageable with the front end of the housing when the bolt is retracted, said bolt having a slot therein alined with said opening in said housing, a spring for projecting said bolt arranged within said housing, a retracting lever pivotally mounted on said housing and having an arm projecting through said opening in said housing into engagement with said slot in said bolt, the rear wall of the slot being rearwardly in clined so that when the bolt is retracted its front end swings inwardly to engage its said catch, and a strike having a projection disposed in a plane in front of its keeper and with which said finger on said bolt engages on the closing of the door to disengage the bolt catch.

2. In a latch, the combination of a housing having an opening in the top thereof, the end walls of the housing being provided with opposed bolt openings, a bolt reciprocatingly mounted in said bolt openings and having an inwardly projecting finger at its front end and a shouldcr-like catch on its inner side engageable with the front end of the housing when the bolt is retracted, said bolt having a slot therein alined with said opening in said housing, a spring for projecting said bolt arranged withinsaid houslng, a retracting lever pivotally mounted on said housing and having an arm projecting through said opening in said housing into engagement with said slot in said bolt and coacting with said spring to swing the bolt laterally to catch engaging position when'the bolt is retracted, and a strike having a projection disposed in a plane in front of its keeper and with which said finger on said bolt engages on the closing of the door to disengage the bolt catch.

3. In a latch, the combination of a housing, a bolt reciprocatingly mounted on said housing and having an inwardly projecting finger at its front end and a catch on its inner side engageable when the bolt is retracted, a spring for projecting said bolt,

a retracting lever pivotally mounted on said housing and having an arm projectin into said housing into engagement with sai bolt, the bolt having an inclined surface with which the lever coacts so that when the bolt is retracted its front end swings inwardly to engage its said catch, and a strike having a projection disposed in a plane in front of its keeper and with which said finger on said bolt engages on the closing of the door to to disengage the bolt catch.

4. In a latch, the combination of a housing, a bolt reciprocatingly mounted onsaid housing and having an inwardly projecting finger at its front end and a catch on its inner side engageable when the bolt is retracted, a spring for projecting said bolt, a retracting lever pivotally mounted on said housing and having an arm projecting into said housing into engagement with said bolt and coacting with said spring to swing the bolt laterally to catch engaging position when the bolt is retracted, and a strike having a projection disposed in a plane in front of its keeper and with which said finger on said bolt engages on the closing of the door to disengage the bolt catch.

5. In a latch, the combination of a housing, a bolt reciprocatingly mounted in said housing and having a catch on its inner side engageable when the bolt is retracted, a spring for projecting said bolt, a retracting lever pivotally mounted on said housing and having an arm projecting into said housing into engagement with said bolt, the bolt having an inclined surface with which the lever coacts so that when the bolt is retracted its front end swings inwardly to engage its said catch, and a strike having a part disposed in a plane in front of its keeper and with which said bolt engages on the closing of the door to disengage the bolt catch.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ISAAC S. KEELER. 

